Melissa Thoroughman, principal of Caughlin Ranch Elementary School gets a high five from a student Monday Jan. 7, 2013. Marilyn Newton/RGJ

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A small piece of wood wedged under classroom doors is part of the safety plan at Caughlin Ranch Elementary School.

The wood keeps the locked doors open, said Principal Melissa Thoroughman, and kicking out the piece of wood and pulling the door shut is faster than having a teacher walk out of the classroom to lock the door in case of a threat or emergency.

Locked doors are more common at Washoe County schools and those across the country as communities and districts grapple with ways to keep students safe less than a month after six adults and 20 children were killed by a gunman at an elementary school ...